| Faced with my own furniture dilemma recently, I | | | | or ribbon, sewing on decorative buttons, or adding |
| thought what a great opportunity for me to | | | | a little lace. This project can easily be made from |
| share ideas with you on how to turn around that | | | | leftover curtain fabric and scraps lying around |
| tired piece of furniture, without having to spend | | | | your sewing room. |
| big bucks! So here it is, secrets from The Budget | | | | Next on the list is what is known as "hardgoods". |
| Decorator on transforming your furniture from | | | | Tables, chests, entertainment centers. A fast and |
| trash to TFTE! (Treat For The Eyes!) | | | | inexpensive way to transform these items is, you |
| One of the most expensive items in our rooms is | | | | guessed it, paint. Almost anything can be painted |
| our furniture, and we can't always afford to just | | | | these days, including laminate. Simply prime it with |
| replace it when it gets worn, outdated, or just no | | | | a product specifically made for non-porous |
| longer works in your room. | | | | surfaces...I like BIN or KILZ. Then just use |
| The number one concern for those trying to | | | | ordinary housepaint. Wood finishes can be just |
| update existing furniture is slipcovers. Now, unless | | | | sanded and painted. |
| you are an experienced seamstress, sewing fitted | | | | Consider trying your hand at decorative painting |
| slipcovers is no easy task. However, fortunately | | | | or faux finishing for designed effects. I suggest |
| today's trends lean towards casual, and that | | | | visiting a few web sites for ideas like or |
| includes furniture. | | | | Another tight budget option for covering worn or |
| Here are instructions for some simple, casual | | | | outdated furniture includes using fabric on door |
| covers that almost anyone can do. | | | | and drawer fronts. You can use leftover fabric, |
| First of all, use sheets instead of pieced fabric, it | | | | fabric from thrift stores or garage sales, or |
| is MUCH easier and cheaper! Measure your | | | | search your own closet. Simply cut the fabric |
| furniture, and buy a sheet size that will cover | | | | slightly larger than the drawer or door front, then |
| your furniture piece without it's cushions, tucked in | | | | use a staple gun to adhere it to the back, |
| and around the arms.(Don't forget to check out | | | | stretching it snug as you go. Try painting the rest |
| garage sales for good deals!) Use decorative | | | | of the piece a color picked out of the fabric for a |
| cording if you like to tie around the "skirt" area to | | | | great coordinated look. |
| give it a more structured look. Simply tuck ends | | | | The last option I am going to throw out there is |
| under the couch or chair.( You could even tape or | | | | mosaic tiling. This can be very frugal if you have |
| staple the ends to the bottom of the piece, if you | | | | leftover tiles from another project, or ask your |
| wanted.) Now take each of your cushions and | | | | local tiling center if they have broken tiles they |
| look at it as if you are wrapping a gift. Cut a | | | | would let you have. Another good place to look |
| piece large enough for your cushion, wrap it like a | | | | for free mosaic materials is at residential |
| present, and safety pin it to the underside of the | | | | construction sites, especially ones that are more |
| cushion. (Who's gonna see it?) Add a few pillows | | | | upscale. Always ask first, but there are always |
| and a throw, and you have changed the entire | | | | broken tiles when an installation has taken place, |
| look of your furniture for little money, the covers | | | | and it's only going to get hauled to the dump! |
| are washable, and you can make one for each | | | | Mosaic can be as simple as laying broken tile in a |
| season if you want. | | | | random pattern and gluing in place, to laying out |
| Sheets, blankets, and quilts can all be used for this | | | | intricate patterns, and grouting and sealing your |
| project, and can be found at garage sales, thrift | | | | project. You can use it on table or dresser tops, |
| stores, and maybe even your own linen closet. | | | | drawer fronts, or even a door itself! You can |
| Try wrapping the cushions with another, different | | | | even produce the illusion of mosaic by using |
| fabric from the room. Remember, this is all about | | | | decorative paper in the same manner, cut it into |
| casual style, and slipcovers are definitely stylish! | | | | irregular shapes, and glue it on! |
| Even dining room chairs can be slipcovered. Simply | | | | Whatever you choose to do to update your |
| make an open envelope of fabric to fit over the | | | | furniture, impose your own style, take your time, |
| back of the chair, similar to a pillowcase. If you | | | | and be proud of your creation! |
| like, this can be dressed up by tying it with cord | | | | Copyright 2002 K. |